8 dictators who are better at despotism than Putin [SLIDESHOW]

Vladimir Putin is a rather new hand at the whole despotism business. You can attack dissident media, invade Ukraine, pass anti-gay propaganda laws, throw corrupt and ostentatious sporting events and continue to control the government through a puppet after you leave an office, but despotism is more than just that.

As Putin has invaded Crimea, he has staked not only his foreign policy plans but his legacy as a strongman. Will he be remembered as a strong ruler and restorer of Russian glory, as argued by his propaganda image? Or will he fail?

Here are eight dictators who are better at that whole tyranny business than Putin.